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I got an email this week where a writer of an online column tells the story of a young child in Sunday School. The writer says the little boy’s teacher asked his class ‘What’s the animal with a long, bushy tail that lives in trees?’ One child quickly answers while probably thinking about the usual answer to questions in his church Sunday School, ‘Jesus. Though it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.’
Just as this child learned that Jesus is not always the answer to every question at church, we also need to think before we give routine answers to other questions we are asked.
Last week Shoney’s closed in Valdosta. Online comments and rants quickly laid the blame on “Obama.” Unless you do most of your thinking from the Left the current president is the reason anything negative happens. Now if you are one of the liberal thinkers in our community then the obvious answer is “Bush.” For these two groups of people there is no need to listen to the question or even consider different options. You have only to open your mouth with a loud “Obama” or “Bush”.
I know this is a shock to many but neither president had anything to do with the restaurant closing.
If we run a photo of a person arrested in a drug bust or a robbery, the rants and comments quickly divide along the color of the suspect. Why?
How can we ever expect to even come close to bi-partisan thinking in our Congress or country if right and left politics divide us as constituents. Our races are becoming more divided. I see so many of us yelling about our rights and freedoms but we have abandoned one of our most precious rights – Free Thinking.
Why do we let a ‘talking head’ on television with a quick byte of opinion, a radio ranter, or a newspaper headline form the way we think?
Are we being true to our own principles when we so quickly agree in yes or no to issues we are only observers? Is silence any better? When we don’t give opinions but remain silent, a high school teacher always reminded my class, we were giving consent. I have a pastor friend in Fitzgerald who sends me a daily prayer and I want to share part of a recent one. In his prayer he addresses our need to develop wisdom.
“Develop in us wisdom so that we will give our assent to that which builds up and not to that which tears down, to that which promotes love and not to that which promotes hate, and to that which fosters community and not to that which fosters division.
“Develop in us discernment so that we will give our assent to that which matters to you.
“Develop in us wholeness so that our actions will demonstrate our agreement with those motives, attitudes, ideas, and principles to which we assent with our thoughts and our words.”
AMEN
Sandy Sanders
Think before you answer
- Sandy Sanders
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Think before you answer
I got an email this week where a writer of an online column tells the story of a young child in Sunday School. The writer says the little boy’s teacher asked his class ‘What’s the animal with a long, bushy tail that lives in trees?’ One child quickly answers while probably thinking about the usual answer to questions in his church Sunday School, ‘Jesus. Though it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.’
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Forgiveness, redemption go together
The news story on Friday read: “WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Thursday to censure once-powerful New York Rep. Charles Rangel for multiple ethical misdeeds — the first time in nearly three decades that House members have publicly rebuked a colleague.
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South Georgia roots run deep for these execs
David Ratcliffe and Mike Garrett, two highly respected executives with Valdosta and South Georgia ties, will be stepping down as leaders of two of the largest power companies in the nation by yearend.
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VDT ready with all-new digital edition
You can now go to the home page of our website (www.valdostadailytimes.com) and click on the link for our digital e-edition. You can sign up for a seven-day trial or, if you currently subscribe to the print edition, we will be glad to add the e-edition just by calling our office for details.
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We are losing our children and we are blaming ‘others’
Extinction! There are public outcries to save animals, bugs and reptiles while our own children are being lost to a new world order. In the past two weeks, I have seen two students, one high school, one middle school, with their parents blessing bring to the public area all the details of their student-teacher antics. Each student had been suspended from school and one was making his way to court.
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Do we want tax or football braggin’ rights?
A drop in our property digest seems evident and to maintain we will need a tax increase. We can recruit higher-paying jobs to the county and get more taxes that way but is that practical thinking for a quick adjustment in this economy?
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Blazer Zone moving into Drexel Park
Next Saturday, Blazer fan families will have a great opportunity for some pre-game tailgating fun. The university is turning Drexel Park into a mini carnival so families can spread out to enjoy an afternoon under the trees, as they get ready for the Blazers’ season opener.
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Maggots with your steak
Today, with online journalism on newspaper websites, readers are able to go online, read the story, post a comment and, within minutes, their comment (thread) is answered by another reader. The bantering can follow a positive line or it can quickly move to having all the attributes of a barroom brawl.
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Why do some children live in abusive houses?
As I have written many times in this column, I grew up in a small town. My father worked at Moody Air Force Base for 30 years and as he would recollect while laughing, “I ate a fried egg sandwich for lunch every day of those 30 years.”
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Turning 18 before the election board
When I turned 18 my father took me down to the courthouse one evening to go before the Board of Registrars so I could be qualified to vote. I was called into the room before three men. I remember being nervous. They asked me questions about residency and being an American before I was given their stamp of approval.
- More Sandy Sanders Headlines
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Think before you answer
